20 NEWS & VIEWS
May-June 2016
Show an opportunity to display technologies shaping today ’ s broadcast infrastructures
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creasingly augmenting on-premise capacities .” FASPStream provides interoperability and management with file-based workflows , including on the cloud . Designed to interoperate with the Aspera file transfer stack , FASPStream sessions support stream-to-file workflows , including writing to cloud “ object ” storage .
A “ new ” Harmonic , exhibiting for the first time after the acqusition of Thomson Video Networks , showcased its new cloud offerings via an extension of its VOS software-based media processing platform . VOS Cloud is a media processing platform that enables content and service providers to manage the video production and delivery workflows for broadcast and over-the-top ( OTT ) applications via standard IT hardware , and over public or private cloud infrastructure .
The VOS 360 professional cloud media processing service , meanwhile , provides operators with a software-as-a-service ( SaaS ) solution that is hosted in the public cloud , with Harmonic maintaining and monitoring the service . Encoding and transcoding functionalities on the new VOS cloud offerings is powered by the Harmonic Pure compression engine , which provides support for a wide range of codecs , including MPEG-2 , MPEG- 4 and HEVC / H / 265 .
Commenting on the acquisition of Thomson Video Networks , Tony Berthaud , VP , sales , APAC , Harmonic , shared : “ We are combining two very large portfolios and integrating our global operations to bring more flexibility and agility to our customers .”
At the Artel booth , the company demonstrated the latest IP- and hybrid IP / SDI-based capabilities via the DigiLink media transport platform . The DigiLink Media Transport Platform is a fully integrated , modular solution for transporting broadcast-quality media including 3G / HD / SD-SDI and ASI plus Ethernet traffic over IP , direct fibre , and managed optical networks .
Featuring multiple chassis options and standards-based technology , DigiLink is designed for broadcast and other applications requiring a reliable , modular , simple-to-deploy and cost-effective media transport platform .
For a number of KVM companies , the show was another opportunity to emphasise the increasing role that KVM technology has to play in shaping today ’ s broadcast infrastructures .
Guntermann & Drunck ( G & D ), for instance , highlighted the DP1.2-VisionXG KVM extender system , which enables the remote ope ration of systems and offers uncompressed transmission of Display Port 1.2 signals .
With the DP1.2-VisionXG , fibre optics connect the KVM transmitter at the computer to the KVM receiver placed at the workstation . Even with distances of up to 10,000m between computer and work station , users are able to operate their systems in a 1:1 connection without any latency .
To ensure high video quality , the DP1.2-VisionXG system transmits video signals transparently — pixel by pixel and without any compression . This way , all details remain visible even when it comes to high-resolution 4K / UHD images at a full refesh rate of 60Hz and across the entire transmission distance .
As for Adder Technologies , its new releases include the AdderLink C-USB LAN network extender , which complements the AdderLink portfolio of IP-based performance KVM products over a standard gigabit network . For instance , the new solution can be used alongside
the AdderLink Infinity matrix to deliver high-speed USB2.0 extension at 480mbps , making it a suitable fit for file ingest from cameras or other USB devices .
The new Adder XD150FX is a point-to-point fibre extender with USB2.0 that can transmit video up to 2560x1600 , as well as analogue audio over a duplex fibre-optic cable . The extender enables users to locate critical computing hardware away from workspaces in an access and temperature-controlled environment . A built-in level of IP control with the inclusion of a network port further enables the XD150FX to be controlled by other systems .
The EVS Live on Tour demo van is ready to hit the road to cover some of the biggest sporting events in North America — with IHSE ’ s KVM matrix switches and extenders driving workflows and equipment inside the EVS vehicle .
The IHSE KVM system consists of a Draco tera compact 32-port matrix switch with Cat 5e / 6 connections , and Draco vario series 474 KVM extenders with DVI-I connectors supporting both DVI and VGA sources . IHSE ’ s KVM system connects all PCs , servers and other equipment inside the van so that
Tony Hanada , managing director of Shotoku Broadcast Systems , seen standing under the Free-d 2 VR / AR tracking system , which uses advanced video processing algorithms and simple ceiling markers capable of precisely determining the exact location and orientation of the studio camera .
Toshihiko Ohnishi ( left ), deputy president , Professional Solutions Group , Sony Japan , and Hiroshi Kiriyama , senior general manager , media segment business division , Professional Solutions and Services Group , IP & S , Sony Corporation , posing with Sony ’ s new HDC-4800 camera .
users can access and control any device from a single workstation , with a significant number of data and live feeds transferred across an IP network .
IHSE ’ s KVM matrix switch also serves as the central connection between the van ’ s workstation — consisting of a keyboard and mouse — and the various EVS solutions , enabling dynamic switching between sources with near-zero latency .
Keen to show off its viaPlatz IP / server-based video workflow was Japan ’ s NTT IT . As part of an IPbased video workflow , the viaPlatz server works as a high-speed video streaming server for both ingest and playback , supports HD / 2K / 4K UHD / 8K uncompressed video formats , and also acts as a media processor to convert video formats . It is also now equipped with a processing engine that supports HDR-based colour corrections .
“ HDR is the next focus for the broadcast industry ,” predicted Yoichi Kato , EVP and general manager , global business , NTT IT .
Another company making strides in HDR and HFR ( high frame rate ) development is Sony , who introduced the HDC-4800 camera system . The HDC-4800 combines 4K / UHD resolution with enhanced HFR capabilities — 8x in 4K / UHD and up to 16x in full HD — and is equipped with HD cut-out and zoom capabilities for live sports and event production . Support for HDR is under development and will be made available in the near future , Sony announced .
One Sony product already supporting HDR is the new PVM-X550 , 55-inch OLED panel with 12-bit signal processing . The PVM-X550 supports HDR through various Electro-Optical Transfer Functions ( EOTF ), such as S-Log3 , SMPTE ST . 2084 and Hybrid Log-Gamma , thus covering applications for both cinematography and broadcast . It also supports various industry standard colour spaces , including the wider ITU-R BT . 2020 recommendation for 4K / UHD .
Sony also announced its membership into AIMS , as the company continues to enhance its fully interoperable IP Live production system with the continued development of the company ’ s Networked Media Interface ( NMI ) AV-over-IP interface .
More camera highlights came from the ARRI booth , where the Alexa SXT cameras now offer a total of 14 recording formats , including new modes such as ProRes 2K and 4K Cine Anamorphic . This mode allows users to create a ready-toview ProRes image in the 2K or 4K / UHD DCI delivery format , without the need for debayer , cropping , re-scaling or de-squeezing in post production .
ARRI SXT cameras produce images in HD , 2K and 4K / UHD while delivering the highest HDR range of any camera in the market , added ARRI . The ability to record at up to 120fps in full image quality also allows HFR approaches to be accommodated .
One camera ARRI is keen to highlight in Asia , and which will allow broadcasters to “ take the cinematic look into the broadcast studio ”, is the Amira , which is now equipped with a ProRes S16 HD recording mode . The new mode takes a Super 16-sized crop from the sensor and scales it to a 16:9 HD picture in any ProRes codec .
For the best camera support systems , Shotoku Broadcast Systems is offering SmartPed , the latest addition to the company ’ s range of robotic camera systems . A three-wheel , smooth-steer XY pedestal , SmartPed features a new height column without any need